and a Happy New Year when it
comes. I've brought you a present;" and, dipping into a pouch tied round
his waist, he pulled out a handful of something brown. Toinette knew
what it was in a moment.

"Oh, no," she cried shrinking back. "Don't give me any fern-seeds. They
frighten me. I don't like them."

"Don't be silly," said Thistle, his voice sounding kind this time, and
earnest. "It wasn't pleasant being invisible last year, but perhaps this
year it will be. Take my advice, and try it. You'll not be sorry."

"Sha'n't I?" said Toinette, brightening. "Very well, then, I will." She
leaned out of bed, and watched Thistle strew the fine dustlike grains in
each shoe.

"I'll drop in to-morrow night, and just see how you like it," he said.
Then, with a nod, he was gone.

The old fear came back when she woke in the morning, and she tied on her
shoes with a tremble at her heart. Downstairs she stole. The first thing
she saw was a wooden ship standing on her plate. Marc had made the ship,
but Toinette had no idea it was for her.

The little ones sat round the table with their eyes on the door,
watching till Toinette should come in and be surprised.

"I wish she'd hurry," said Pierre, drumming on his bowl with a spoon.

"We all want Toinette, don't we?" said the mother, smiling as she poured
the hot porridge.

"It will be fun to see her stare," declared Marc.

"Toinette is jolly when she stares. Her eyes look big and her cheeks
grow pink. Andre Brugen thinks his sister Aline is prettiest, but I
don't. Our Toinette is ever so pretty."

"She is ever so nice, too," said Pierre. "She's as good to play with
as--as--a boy," finished triumphantly.

"Oh, I wish my Toinette would come," said Jeanneton.

Toinette waited no longer, but sped upstairs with glad tears in her
eyes. Two minutes, and down she came again visible this time. Her heart
was light as a feather.

"Merry Christmas!" clamoured the children. The ship was presented,
Toinette was duly surprised, and so the happy day began.

That night Toinette left the window open, and lay down in her clothes;
for she felt, as Thistle had been so kind, she ought to receive him
politely. He came at midnight, and with him all the other little men in
green.

"Well, how was it?" asked Thistle.

"Oh, I liked it this time," declared Toinette, with shining eyes, "and I
thank you so much."

"I'm glad you did," said the elf. "And I'm glad you are thankful, for we
want you to do